Edit This Favorite

Green Construction and Fire Protection
Will LEED eventually recognize the environmental benefits of fire sprinklers?

By Dominick G. Kasmauskas | Fire Protection Engineering

There are several possible negative environmental
events occurring at a fire scene (whether a single-family home or a
factory). Toxic materials may spew into the atmosphere, debris may be
added to landfills, and a significant amount of fire-fighting water may
be used. This water, whether turned into steam or as runoff, may flow
into aquifers, waterways or reservoirs.

There may be an inherent water
conservation benefit from having automatic fire suppression. There may
also be a positive impact on the atmosphere. Similarly, fires have an
impact on the carbon footprint associated with buildings.1 There
are many questions regarding exactly where automatic fire protection
fits into the green community, and although not all of the questions
have answers, these and other questions need to be raised.

THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT IMPACT AND THE NEED FOR "GREEN"According
to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the built environment has a
major impact on the environment. In the United States alone, buildings
account for: 2

72% of electricity consumption

39% of energy use

38% of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions

40% of raw materials use

30% of waste output (136 million tons annually)

13.6% of potable water consumption

Fire sprinklers have been stopping fire
growth and minimizing greenhouse and toxic gas production for over 130
years. However, they are presently not given any credit in the USGBC's
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification
program.

Fire in buildings contributes to the production of CO2 and
potable water consumption. While the impact of building fires are
considered in the code process, they are not addressed in the green
process.

Buildings that do not have automatic fire protection can be expected
to generate a greater volume of burned materials, which will eventually
be thrown into landfills.

New products must be produced to replace the burnt
structural material and replace lost commercial equipment, process
materials and furnishings. Energy is consumed to manufacture, transport
and install the needed replacements. Additionally, not just the burnt
material is discarded from a structure involved in a fire. Other
materials may also need replacement either due to code or design
requirements for the new part of the structure or by insurance and
liability-driven issues for the contractor in order to guarantee the new
work.

For example, if a roof is damaged by the
fire and firefighting operations, the roofer is not just going to patch
the hole. The roofer is going to inspect the damage and replace a
significant area beyond the damage - or possibly the entire roof - to be
able to warranty the work and new material. Exposed neighboring
structures may also have radiant heat damage.

Fuel and energy are also consumed by fire
apparatus operating at a fire scene, and most fires require multiple
fire vehicles. Most fire apparatus use diesel fuel. Diesel fuel not only
contributes greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere, but also toxins.3

Automatic fire protection can have a
positive impact on the environment. The positive impact can be measured
in the avoidance of future negative effects. Just as fire protection can
mitigate the effects to local economies after an unwanted fire, fire
protection can also positively affect the environment and assist in
energy conservation.

FIRE SPRINKLERS AND LEED
Portions of the LEED certification
process address the impacts of "material & resources" - such as
re-use, recycled content and use of regional materials. However,
mechanical, electrical and plumbing components are specifically
excluded. Therefore, fire protection system components are exempt from
LEED point calculations for materials being used in the project.

Many materials used in the sprinkler
industry (e.g., pipe, hangers, fire sprinklers, valves, etc.) are made
using recycled materials. CPVC is recyclable.

There is some precedent for using the
"innovation in design" section of the LEED checklist to obtain one
credit by using fire sprinklers. This section can gain one point more
toward the desired level of LEED Certification for exceptional
performance above the LEED requirements. To gain this credit, the LEED
APwould need to document and apply the strategies and measures of the
fire sprinkler concept, including stating the environmental and health
benefits.

CREDITS REGARDING FIRE PROTECTION
A project cannot obtain the LEED credit
in chapter 4 for having a clean agent fire protection system. Credit is
available for not using a HCFC or CFC system in the project. A project
can use a CFC system and still obtain a LEED platinum rating; however,
this individual credit cannot be claimed in the point scheme.

Having automatic fire protection
recognized in the future may not come without some trading. If LEED is
to recognize fire sprinklers, the impact of using water during flow
tests that must be captured in gray water must be considered. The impact
would be reduced if all testing water was supplied from a gray water
source.

FIRE PUMPS
There is a potential environmental impact
of testing of diesel fire pumps and the energy use of electric fire
pumps during tests. Many large building projects will use fire
sprinklers and the associated equipment needed for a properly operating
system. Many projects where a point might be available for automatic
fire protection could be smaller projects that would not require a fire
pump.

While diesel fire pumps have an associated environmental impact, they
could reduce the number of fire apparatus responding and operating at
unwanted, uncontrolled fires in structures. NFPA 254 requires
a weekly test of at least 10 minutes for diesel fire pumps. An item
that should be considered is whether electric fire pumps would be
preferable over diesel fire pumps. Electrical fire pumps do not emit
exhaust.

AVAILABLE DATA
The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition and FM
Global teamed up in October 2009 and burned two identical 4.5 m x 6 m
(15' x 20') living rooms fully furnished with modern items, one with
fire sprinklers and one without. The results show fewer water usage and
less gases released in the fire-sprinklered burn as compared to the
non-fire-sprinklered burn.5

FUTURE EFFORTS
The fire sprinkler industry plans to work
with the USGBC to develop a credit for fire sprinklers in future
editions of LEED based on the environmental benefits of sprinkler
systems.

A possibility for later consideration is a new credit for material and resources.

Dominick G. Kasmauskas is with the National Fire Sprinkler Association.